as in to rant
disapproving
to speak or express your opinion about something in a way that shows that you think you are always right
We had to listen to her pontificate about the best way to raise children.
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Recent Examples of pontificate
The literary space has always been a realm where Black intellectuals, writers, and artists examine history, pontificate about the future, and survey dominant narratives.
—
Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 30 Dec. 2025
That’s especially true for one of its two main narrators, Verity, an aging franchise movie star who acts, thinks, and pontificates like an adolescent.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
From a purple-pod terminalia tree a crimson-breasted shrike pontificated at us.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
In the 1960s, Canadians hungered for public intellectuals pontificating on the distinctiveness of their identity.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pontificate
Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 30 Dec. 2025
That’s especially true for one of its two main narrators, Verity, an aging franchise movie star who acts, thinks, and pontificates like an adolescent.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
From a purple-pod terminalia tree a crimson-breasted shrike pontificated at us.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
In the 1960s, Canadians hungered for public intellectuals pontificating on the distinctiveness of their identity.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pontificate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontificate
Verb
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She has also been criticized for not raising her voice on Selection Sundays, as if a conference commissioner could rant and rave more teams in the Field of 68.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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Santat’s illustrations begin with straightforward, muted sincerity and become brighter, busier, and more gleeful—filling every corner of the page—as Sharpson’s narrator becomes ever more unhinged, ranting about fish spies, fish disguises, and fish taking over the world.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Out of some 2,600 reviewers, dozens are repeat buyers who rave about the shoe’s durability.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
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Friends who work in the art world here rave about the explosion of commercial galleries and world-class museums in Galatea, Beyoğlu and nearby Tophane (areas that can easily be covered on foot), while Art International Istanbul is becoming as well-known as Frieze, Art Basel or the Armoury.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pontificate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontificate. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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